Gandhi And Jainism

Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 40

historical evidence of trade and commerce ties with Egypt and Persian Gulf countries during the time period of 1000 to 750 BC.It is also the home of Lord Krishna with his capital in Dwarka and his cousin Aristnemi (22nd Tirthankara of Jains) who renounced the worldly life and attained liberation at Mount Girnar in Kathiawad peninsula. Haribhadra (born Brahmin in 7th century AD) known for his harmonizing activities like reconciling the eight fold meditation of Patanjali with 14 stages of Spiritual purification of Jains and the Shadadarshan-samuchchay text. He did exemplary service in bringing religious harmony and eradicates Jainism of its overtly materialistic Hemchandra (12th century AD born in Dhanduhuka 100 KM south west of Ahmedabad) of the Modh lineage became the advisor of Chalukya kings Siddharaj and then Kumarapal. He made Kumarapal declare Jainism as the state religion and built several temples. He did exemplary services to write Jain literature as well as lead Vaishnava prayers in temples. He is of the same caste lineage as Gandhi Satish Sharma, Gandhi's Teachers: Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta (Ahmedabad: Gujarat Vidyapeeth, 2005), p. 51 Modh are the followers of Modheśvarī Mā (also known as Mātangī Mā), a form of Pārvatī Mā with eighteen hands. They originally lived in a town called Modhera in Patan District in the northern part of Gujarat. The name of the town Modhera was adopted by the community living around the temple of Modheśvarī Mātā. 10th century onwards, the predominant community of Modhera consisted of the Brahmins and the Banias. The residents of Modhera migrated to other parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Varanasi etc. states to towns such as Surat, Bulsar, Navsari, Mandvi, Bharuch, Ankaleshwar, Bardoli, Billimora, Chikhli, Gandevi, Dharampur, Bombay, and Varanasi etc. Hence, the descendants who originated from the township of Modhera whether they are Brahmins, Vanias, Kshatriyas or Harijans are all referred to as Modhas. It is believed that the Modhas are further divided into Dasha and Visha like any other Gujarati nyat (community). The residents of
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